http://www.afterdowningstreet.org/?q=node/22902Senate report says US intelligence warned Iran, al-Qaida could gain from invasion of Iraq
Submitted by davidswanson on Thu, 2007-05-24 22:10. Congress
By Associated Press
WASHINGTON: U.S. intelligence agencies warned senior members of the Bush administration in early 2003 that invading Iraq could create instability that would give Iran and al-Qaida new opportunities to expand their influence, according to a coming Senate report.
Officials familiar with the Senate Intelligence Committee investigation also say analysts warned against a sustained U.S. presence, which could increase extremist recruiting. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because the report's declassification is not finished. It could be made public as early as this week.
The committee also found that the warnings predicting what would happen after the U.S.-led invasion were circulated widely in government, including to the Pentagon and Vice President Dick Cheney's office. It was not clear whether President George W. Bush was briefed.
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